Amazon wasn't the only company that tried to buy Whole Foods

A new filing confirms that there were other suitors trying to buy Whole Foods, but that Amazon put pressure on Whole Foods not to talk to them.

The document cites a Company X that expressed interest in having exploratory conversations in mid-April, but did not make a formal offer.Reuters has identified that company as Albertsons groceries.

Over the next two weeks, four private equity firms indicated they were inclined to discuss a leveraged buyout or investment in Whole Foods.

In that same time frame, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey discussed a media report that suggested Amazon once had considered acquiring them. He asked an outside consultant to make a phone call to introduce the two parties.

After conversations with Peter Krawiec, Amazon.coms vice president of Worldwide Corporate Development, the companies wound up signing a non-disclosure agreement and met in Seattle on April 30. They discussed strategicpossibilities, but an offer wasnt made.

Whole Foods reached out to Albertsons to schedule a meeting but remained in contact with Amazon. They also received an inquiry from undisclosed Company Y.

Amazon met with Albertsons on May 18. They told Whole Foods that a possible acquisition would value the company between $35 and $40 per share. Later that day they had a conversation with Company Y, but did not discuss an offer.

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